The Prodigy first emerged in the underground rave scene in the early 1990s and achieved popularity and worldwide recognition with UK number one singles such as "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both singles coming from their UK and US chart topping album The Fat of the Land (1997). A third single from the album, “Smack My Bitch Up”, was also successful. They earned titles like "the premiere dance act for the alternative masses" and "the Godfathers of Rave", and remain one of the most successful electronic acts of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and received two Grammy Award nominations.
The Prodigy were founded in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett. He had taken piano lessons in his youth and gained the ability to play difficult passages in just a few run-throughs. After he decided to pursue a music career, Howlett met dancer and vocalist Keith Flint in mid-1989 at a rave at which Howlett was DJing. After Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, Howlett obliged, returning a cassette several days later with a collection of his own songs on the other side. Howlett had scratched the word "Prodigy" onto the cassette, the same name as the Moog Prodigy analogue synthesiser, and Howlett's moniker. The tape was well-received by Flint and keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together. They were soon joined by MC and vocalist Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality, and female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint's. Together they became the first line-up of the Prodigy.
On 4 March 2019, Keith Flint was found dead at his home in Essex, just weeks after playing six live dates in Australia and New Zealand. On 5 March, the band announced on Twitter that "all forthcoming concerts in 2019 would be canceled, effective immediately".
Following Flint's death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag "Firestarter4Number1" on various social media platforms to get "Firestarter" to top the British singles charts again. This was done out of respect for Keith Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.
On 20 August 2019, one day before his 48th birthday, Liam Howlett posted on the band's official Instagram page, saying he is "back in the studio making noise [...] brand new Prodigy tunes are gonna roll", referring to his intention to keep on releasing music under the Prodigy moniker.
Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. The Prodigy, however, is not considered entirely representative of the genre as their production "often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat" according to AllMusic. The Prodigy are also considered alternative dance, techno, electronica, breakbeat hardcore, and rave.
Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like "Clear" by American music group Cybotron and "Al Naafiysh" by Hashim. Liam Howlett also cited The Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.
10_fuel my fire
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thanks that I'd like to say
For the rage that I feel
The rage that I feel today
Gotta stack, gotta stack
Stack of chips on my shoulder
In everything I do 'cause I made, I made
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
People like you just burn!
You liar, you liar, you liar, you liar!
Yeah, my layers are thick
And I got a bad attitude
Yeah, that knife in my back
Has fingerprints that belong to you
Got a grudge, got a grudge
Got a grudge that I'm holding for as long as I live
'Cause you lied, you lied, you lied to my face
And that's something that I can't forgive
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
People like you just burn!
You liar, you liar, you liar, you liar!
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
People like you just fuel my fire
While people like you just burn!
You liar, you liar, you liar, you liar!
In the song “Fuel My Fire” by The Prodigy, the lyrics express intense feelings of anger and betrayal towards an unidentified individual responsible for causing the singer to lose trust and get stabbed in the back. The rage is so fierce that the singer feels grateful for it, as it fuels them to achieve their goals and drives them to succeed. The lyrics also express a willingness to hold onto grudges and the desire for revenge, and show the anger and mistrust the singer harbors towards the person who has betrayed them. The lyrics “people like you just fuel my fire” suggest that this is not an isolated incident and is a common occurrence for the singer, who has encountered similar betrayals before.
The lyrics' use of metaphors, such as “a stack of chips on my shoulder,” “the knife in my back has fingerprints that belong to you,” and “my layers are thick,” convey the depth of the singer's anger and bitterness. The lyrics are powerful and aggressive, fitting with the intense and hard-hitting electronic music of The Prodigy. The song embodies the punk rock attitude of rejecting authority and fighting against injustice, making it a popular choice for rebellious and young listeners.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
I've got word of thanks
I have gratitude, but not for a positive experience or person.
Thanks that I'd like to say
The gratitude I have is more of a sarcastic remark or sentiment.
For the rage that I feel
The source of my gratitude is the anger and frustration I am currently experiencing.
The rage that I feel today
The anger and frustration I am experiencing is not a passive emotion, as it is happening right now.
Gotta stack, gotta stack
I have accumulated something of value that I must protect or hold onto.
Stack of chips on my shoulder
The thing of value I am protecting is my pride and reputation.
In everything I do 'cause I made, I made
I constantly assert and remind others of my accomplishments and successes for the purpose of defending my pride.
I made the mistake of trusting you
The cause of my anger and frustration is due to someone I trusted betraying me or letting me down.
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
The person who betrayed me and those who are like them only serve as motivation for me to succeed and prove them wrong.
People like you just burn!
The person who betrayed me and those who are like them will suffer the consequences of their actions against me.
You liar, you liar, you liar, you liar!
I use repetition and emphasis to make it clear what the person who betrayed me is guilty of.
Yeah, my layers are thick
I have built up a strong defense against being hurt or betrayed again.
And I got a bad attitude
I am confrontational and defensive in my interactions with others because of my past experiences.
Yeah, that knife in my back
The betrayal I experienced was not just a minor mistake, but a significant and harmful action against me.
Has fingerprints that belong to you
I am certain that the person who betrayed me is responsible and can be held accountable for their actions.
Got a grudge, got a grudge
I am still holding onto the hurt and anger I feel towards the person who betrayed me.
Got a grudge that I'm holding for as long as I live
I have no intention of forgiving or forgetting what was done to me, as I will carry this resentment with me for the rest of my life.
'Cause you lied, you lied, you lied to my face
The person who betrayed me did not just hurt me, but deliberately deceived me and was dishonest about their intentions and actions.
And that's something that I can't forgive
The betrayal was so severe and harmful that I cannot find it in myself to forgive or move past it.
People like you just fuel my fire
The person who betrayed me and others like them only serve to remind me of why I must be vigilant and protect myself.
While people like you just burn!
The person who betrayed me and others like them will suffer the consequences of their actions, and I will overcome them.
Yeah, people like you just fuel my fire
I am determined to use the hurt and anger I feel as motivation to succeed and prove those who hurt me wrong.
You liar, you liar, you liar, you liar!
I repeat the accusation of dishonesty to emphasize the severity of the betrayal and the guilt of the person who did it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONITA SPARKS, PETER JONES, ROSS BARRIE KNIGHT, WILLIAM CHARLES WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind